We are fortunate to receive the support of MadeMill, the makerspace at Innovation Centre Bayview Yards, where we will be developing enhanced functionality to the robot.

Councillor Jeff Leiper of Kitchissippi Ward has said the following about Robot Missions:

With our low-cost robot, Robot Missions has embarked on 20 Field Tests in Toronto and Ottawa. Joined by over 250 participants who took part! Plus, there have been 4 replications of our robot.

Engaging participants with the robot in action at a workshop at the Canada Science and Technology Museum - Feb. 2018

Robot Missions has engaged with groups such as Girl Guides, SHAD, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum to deliver workshops.

Moment with the EO&NS Girl Guide Unit

The highly interactive nature of the workshops and Field Tests engages participants to learn more about engineering, technology, and the environment.

Next Step

The Municipal Trials builds on our previous Field Test experience. We will engage with the community in public testing, leading up to a final demonstration at the end of summer.

Bowie rolling into action at Westboro Beach, Aug. 2017

• What's involved? Robo-Wrangler community volunteers deploy 3 robots in their zone for testing each morning, reporting back on any observations.

• How will it work? Robots navigate in their zone set by a geofence, and collect debris, capture imagery, record environmental sensor data.

• Where will this be held? Westboro Beach in Ottawa, ON, and Mooney's Bay Beach in Ottawa, ON.

• Why should we do this? In other locations in the world, pollution is much more prevalent. Through the trials, Robot Missions aims to develop a solution that can be implemented around the world. At the same time, increasing awareness of STEM through this hands-on initiative.

Bowie collecting a piece of polystyrene on Petrie Island, June 2017

The City of Ottawa has given authorization to Robot Missions to operate our robots in the designated zones on Westboro and Mooney's Bay Beach between 8-12pm, Mon-Sat (inclusive), unless there is an event happening. The National Capital Commission has given Robot Missions the go ahead as well. We have the signed documentation to support this.

Who is behind Robot Missions?

Erin "RobotGrrl" and Yellow Bowie at MadeMill

Erin is Robot Missions' technical founder and CEO. She has built the robot from the ground up, including the 3D CAD design, electronics circuit board, firmware, and more. She was recognised in the Lieutenant Governor’s Visionaries Prize, hear her address here, and her interview in the Journal of Open Source Hardwarehere.

Three collaborators: Randy Glenn, David Kavanagh, and Micah Black, have contributed time towards additional software, electronics, and Field Tests.

Check out the fun rewards we have in store for you as a backer!

Add your mark to the robot! We'll email you a photo of your glyph on the robot. After the Municipal Trials conclude at the end of summer, we'll then mail your glyph to you.

Example of the Glyphs - 4 can fit per tile on Bowie's enclosure!

Join an indoors Field Test from your couch by controlling the robot via a livestream! We'll give you a VIP code for dedicated control for 30 minutes.

*Note: You will need to have a fast internet connection and modern computer

Virtual control interface, just like the hardware version!

Robot Control ($49)

Be a VIP at the Field Test! Dedicated 30 minutes control of the robot to navigate and collect trash. You'll get a printable VIP Field Test ticket to bring with you, and a commemorative button.

Friend & Family ($119)

What's better than a day of robots and beaches?! Same as above, but you will receive 3 tickets, 3 buttons, and 3 minifigs. Add $30 for each additional member.

VIP Field Test tickets!

Want to combine this with a Controller? Check out the Friend & Family pack!

Two options: Early bird ($199) or Kickstarter edition ($229)

The excitement of operating the robot is in your hands with this controller! Bring this with you to Field Tests to operate a robot.

Operate the robot with the Controller

The controller is easy to learn to use. It has 6 buttons, 1 joystick, an OLED display, speaker, and a 3 position mode switch.

Firmware updates will be made available online (open source), and can be uploaded at the Field Tests by a member of the Robot Missions team. There's no limit to the number of updates.

The controller will have a plug-in communication module at the Field Tests to control to the robot wirelessly.

After the season concludes, it can be used with your own project (perhaps a little Bowie)!

Want to combine this with VIP tickets? Check out the Friend & Family pack!

Bring the power of STEM learning into your hands with dedicated control of a robot. This pack brings the best: One Controller combined with the Friend & Family VIP Field Test Tickets.

This backer reward will be MAXIMUM FUN!

Join in our public Field Tests or Robo-Wrangler testing to take part. The best part is that you will be learning the ins and outs of the robot, and contributing to the testing!

At this level, you will sponsor 20 VIP Field Test tickets for members of the community. Your influence will be felt by participants who are excited about technology and passionate about the environment.

University of Ottawa Modules

University of Ottawa - first year engineering class working with Robot Missions - February 2018

100 engineering students from the University of Ottawa developed new modules with our robot platform for environmental restoration.

Sam, the automated water sampler module

Development taking place on the soil moisture probe at the uOttawa Richard L’Abbé Makerspace - March 2018

Their groups created modules such as a soil moisture probe + automatic waterer, seed dispensers, water sampler, and weed snippers.

We will be using some of their modules during the Municipal Trials. Check out their progress shared on this Twitter Moment, and their 4 minute group presentations: Part 1 & Part 2.

Community Involvement

In the Ottawa region? You can take part! Dive in to robotics hands-on by being a Robo-Wrangler for a week to deploy the robots. Check out the Robo-Wrangler page to apply.

Vision

Robot Missions’ vision is to democratize robotics and empower citizens to tackle environmental challenges. We want to see robots cleaning parks and beaches across the world.

Robots in the (near) future! Modelled by John Syracopoulos, courtesy of Autodesk, rendered with Arnold

Timeline

Budget

The total project budget of the Municipal Trials is $60K. Robot Missions was accepted into the competitive Ontario Centres of Excellence IBM I3 Customer Demonstration Program with funding of $30K, which we need to match through our Kickstarter campaign and corporate sponsorship.

For this summer, Robot Missions is looking to grow the team by bringing on 4 paid contractors. One as a mission operations intern to organise our events, and three others in the realm of software development.

Robot Missions Municipal Trials budget breakdown

Selected Media & Awards

Robot Missions was recognised with the Make A Difference Award at the Ontario Makers and Mentors Innovation Conference 2017 — a special award given to whichever team can demonstrate how their idea, project or prototype can solve an environmental, social or economical issue.

"What is so interesting about this project is that it combines makers and environmentalists working on issues in their own communities. The robots can be easily replicated in FabLabs or other maker spaces since they will be set up as open source kits. It’s not only educational, but empowering." - Leslie Birch

"What’s next? Erin seems content to work toward her goal of the mostly-autonomous swarm, with improvements in electronics, chassis, and programming coming every few months, I wouldn’t put it past her."

Bonus: DANCE MODE

Since you've scrolled all the way to the bottom, please enjoy this bonus of Bowie in DANCE MODE

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Risks and challenges

Here are four key areas Robot Missions sees as large risks to the project.

• Theft of robot — Mitigation strategy: Robot Missions will develop a way for each robot to periodically "phone home", and enter a "security safety mode" based on sensor readings.

• Severe flooding — Mitigation strategy: Robot Missions could expand the robot operating zone to follow where the receding water meets the shoreline.

• Injury — Mitigation strategy: There will always be an intern or volunteer present when the robots are operating to reduce the chance of this happening.

• Technology failure — Mitigation strategy: As we have designed, developed, and manufactured the robot from scratch, Robot Missions has a deep understanding of the system architecture and where to look in the event of a failure.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 25 or more
About $19

GLYPH

Have your initials added as a Glyph onto the robot for just 25 bucks! It will be placed on an outwards facing side of the robot, and you'll receive a photo of your glyph on the robot. Glyphs will be within the size of 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.0cm. Your initials will roll into the history of robots helping our planet. After the Municipal Trials conclude at the end of summer, we'll send you your glyph in the mail.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 39 or more
About $30

VIRTUAL ROBOT CONTROL

Want to join in a Field Test but can't make it to the beach? Get a ticket to control our robot via a livestream! You will be given a webpage to go to that will have a virtual Operator Interface that you can control the robot through a livestream. Robot operation from afar! Be a VIP at our livestream with 30 minutes operating the robot without interruptions. You will be navigating the robot indoors.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 49 or more
About $38

ROBOT CONTROL: VIP FIELD TEST TICKET

Hands-on STEM learning! Be a VIP at our Field Test with 30 minutes operating the robot without interruptions. You will be controlling the robot to navigate and collect trash. Plus training its brain at the same time and logging environmental sensor data. Robots operating on the beach, what could be more fun?

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 119 or more
About $93

FRIEND & FAMILY VIP FIELD TEST TICKETS

Hands on STEM learning for the entire family or your group of friends! What's better than a day of robots and beaches? (A clean beach is better, of course — which is what you'll be helping to do!) Same as VIP Field Test tickets above, for each ticket you will have 30 mins of uninterrupted control of the robot. Perfect for those who would like to explore every aspect of the robot.
*Note: You must be able to attend one of our Field Tests in Ottawa to redeem this reward

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 199 or more
About $155

EARLY BIRD CONTROLLER

Early bird version! The excitement of operating the robot is in your hands with this controller! Bring this with you to Field Tests to operate a robot. The controller is simple to use, you can learn it in moments. Advanced technology is a button press away. Receive firmware updates at the Field Test to unlock the latest functionality. Combine this with a VIP Field Test ticket for maximum FUN!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 229 or more
About $178

CONTROLLER

Kickstarter edition! The excitement of operating the robot is in your hands with this controller! Bring this with you to Field Tests to operate a robot. The controller is simple to use, you can learn it in moments. Advanced technology is a button press away. Receive firmware updates at the Field Test to unlock the latest functionality. Combine this with a VIP Field Test ticket for maximum FUN!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 339 or more
About $264

FRIEND & FAMILY PACK

The power of STEM learning is in your hands with one Controller combined with the Friend & Family VIP Field Test Tickets. Join in our public Field Tests! You will have a controller that you can control the robot with, plus the 3x 30 minute VIP tickets.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 1,000 or more
About $778

DREAMER

You are directly supporting our vision and dream to democratize robotics for citizens to use for tackling environmental challenges. With your help, we will be able to take a huge step towards making this possible. You will sponsor 20 VIP Field Test tickets for members of the community. Your influence will be felt by participants who are excited about technology and passionate about the environment. How cool is that!